Cady (and Zoe?), is there a specific part of the passage (Colossians 1:15-20) you think was mistranslated?
I'm looking at the Greek breakdown of the passage in Blue Letter Bible and the translators' notes in NetBible, and so far, I can't find any fault with SBG's translation. In verse 19 ("... in Him, all the Fullness was well-pleased to dwell", with the assumption that "the Fullness" is God's), SBG's translation is actually better (in my opinion) than NASB's change of a verb to a noun ("For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him"). I might take issue with changing a passive verb in verse 16 ("all things were created") to an active verb requiring the addition of an assumed Subject ("God created all things"). Other than that, I don't see the problem.
@stunnedbygrace
False teachings presented by the subject translation:
1. Christ existed before anything was created. - False
2. He made things we can see and the things we can't see. - False
3. He existed before anything else. - False
4. God existed in Christ "in all his fulness." - False
5. God reconciled everything to himself - False
6. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth. - False
In order to understand Paul correctly, we must become properly orientated to his flow of thought and his subject matter. For instance, if we mistakenly think that Paul is talking about the created order in which we now live, we will draw the wrong conclusions from his text. Paul is NOT talking about the Genesis of creation, when God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1) Paul is talking about the NEW creation. He refers to the current creation as "the domain of darkness"; and he refers to the New creation as "the kingdom of light" (1:12) and "the kingdom of his beloved son. (1:13) And those in Christ are being transferred from one kingdom to the other.
Colossians 1:15-20
15 He is the image of the invisible God,
The subject translation adds "visible", which is not in the original text. And although this is a reasonable extrapolation, it isn't Paul's focus and it changes the meaning. To my ears, the subject translation makes Jesus Christ out to be a visible representation of God's external form as if God had a form.
Instead, Paul asserts that Jesus is the moral likeness of God. Each of them want the same thing; they both are morally courageous; they both are righteous and good; they both are forgiving and merciful; they both are patient; they both judge rightly, which is why Jesus is qualified to rule over the new creation.
the firstborn of all creation.
The subject translation has "he existed before anything was created", which is not only false, Paul doesn't say anything close to this. The term "firstborn" can either refer to the eldest child, or it can refer one who is preeminent in rank. Paul's point is this, with regard to the new kingdom of his beloved son, the new kingdom of light, Jesus is preeminent in rank. And here "creation" refers to the new kingdom that God, through Christ is creating. Jesus is the firstborn son of the new kingdom.
16 For by Him all things were created,
Again, the phrase "all things" draws our attention toward the formation of the original creation. But Paul isn't talking about the formation of the original creation, he is talking about the formation of the new creation, which is populated by those whom he redeemed (1:14) The Greek phrase "
ta panta" can refer to "things" but in this context, it refers to people. Jesus is the agent of the formation of the new Creation, the new people, who will populate his new kingdom.
both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible,
Paul is attempting to incorporate and include all those whom God will save. Jesus is the firstborn, and preeminent over all believers down through history. This not only includes Gentiles "in the heavens" it also includes Jews "on the earth." This not only includes contemporary believers, (visible) it also includes believers from both the past and the future. (invisible)
Paul isn't talking about the literal heavens and the literal earth. He is speaking metaphorically. The Jews were known as the people of the land (earth) and so this makes the Gentiles "the stars of the heavens", an idea taken from Genesis 15:5, where God tells Abraham that his descendants will be as plentiful as the stars of heaven.
whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities —all things have been created through Him and for Him.
Here again, Paul is not talking about rulers and authorities of darkness, he is talking about rulers and authorities of light. Whatever rulers and authorities we might find in the new kingdom, all of them will have been created through him and for him.
17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
Here again, "all things" refers to all those who will be found in the new kingdom. (ta panta = people not things in this context)
18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.
Historically speaking, Jesus was the first person whom God resurrected, because Jesus has a special place and a special role to play in the new kingdom. When the time comes, all of those destined for life in the new kingdom God will resurrect at the call of Jesus Christ.
19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,
Here the term "fulness" speaks about each and every believer whom God will save. It was the Father's good pleasure that all of them should dwell in Christ.
20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
Here again, all things refers to people, not things. God reconciles people, not things. God makes peace with people, not things. God is reconciled to the people of the earth; but also to the other descendants of Abraham symbolically referenced as the stars of heaven (Genesis 15:5)